Clifford and the Big Storm

Clifford the Big Red Dog

by Norman Bridwell

The most popular big, red, lovable dog that ever was! Clifford books have sold millions of copies in nearly half a century - and his series airing on PBS Kids TV has been enormously popular.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Dogs, Fiction, Fantasy, Spanish Literature

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Norman Bridwell was an American author and cartoonist, best-known for the Clifford the Big Red Dog series of children's books. Bridwell attended John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana. He lived on Martha's Vineyard, MA, where he wrote an average of two books a year.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not my favorite Clifford book, but if your child is a huge Clifford fan they may like it better.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another listless adventure as Clifford and Emily Elizabeth visit her grandmother at the beach. After the usual mild chaos and humor caused by his large size in the first half, drama is created in the second half as an incoming storm forces evacuation and requires Clifford to battle the elements to save Grandma's house.

If he's not a cute little puppy, I really have trouble caring about Clifford and his adventures.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clifford saves Emily's Grandma's house in a big storm.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, that was traumatic.

Grandma has beachfront property. Apparently, Grandma is unaware of what hurricanes usualy do to beachfront property. Yes, this was first published in 1995, but hurricanes have kicked man-made structures to the curb since the damn continent got people, so Grandma's ignorance is a little hard to understand.

Also, if Grandma could afford beachfront property, she probably could afford to replace said property after a Category 5 hurricane.

Then again, Grandma has Clifford to protect her property. The hurricane is nothing to our favorite canine mutant. There -- problem of superstorms caused by climate change solved. Just create mutants the size and intelligence of Clifford.

The traumatic part for me was seeing two tiny puppies clinging to a doghouse heading out to sea. Clifford saves them ... but then they disappear from the story. What the hell happened to those pups, Norman? Did they find their owners? Why didn't the damn owners take them when they evacuated? Yes, I know that pets were not allowed in emergency shelters in 1995, but responsible pet owners wouldn't go to shelters, but made other arrangements. Did the owners gave their homes smashed behind repair and have to surrender the pups to a shelter? Did they get adopted? Or ... not?

It's details like these that keep me up at night.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone’s favorite big red dog returns in a touching tale. Emily Elizabeth and her friends have fun visiting Grandma, but a storm forces them to take shelter in the high school gym. But Clifford knows Grandma is worried about her little house, so he returns and does what he does best . . . fixing everything for everyone.

An easy-to-read text, accompanied by colorful illustrations, will encourage older children to read the story themselves. Readers young and old will delight in Clifford’s seaside adventure.

Recommended.

[The Unabridged Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spitting water onto the burning lighthouse was a big hit with my toddler, but I’m also glad he didn’t understand all of this book. Those who live in beach areas should be cautious about reading this to little ones who might be scared of (or be in a zone for) hurricanes.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story! The illustrations really add to the text and sometimes tell you a lot more than what is said. They're lovely. I think this one might just be my favorite Clifford as an adult/dog story (I adore the Clifford puppy ones).

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily Elizabeth shares the story about the time she and her big red dog Clifford were visiting her grandmother by the seashore, and big storm blew inland, threatening the community, and her grandmother's house. Clifford came to the rescue and saved the day.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clifford is sometimes a mess, but having him be so heroic here changes the tone a bit for his books. Little readers can look at the value of community and see some of the risks our own heroes takes, at least on a small scale.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandchildren loved it. Can't get enough of Clifford books.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this Clifford classic in Spanish on Monday during my first day back in the classroom.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

M likes Clifford, so she liked this one. I think she liked that there was a storm, too?

[Phillip Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5: Clifford assists Grandma in saving her home from the storm. What a dog.

[Anna McFarland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the episode the big storm is based off of this book. Its just a little different is all.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

(read aloud by himself at 5yo, no words missed)

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Elizabeth have a Big Dog. His name is Clifford. They have exicting adventure together.Last summer they went to visit their grandma . She live near the seashore but a big strome come and they have to live their house .
Clifford is very smart Dog. I have a lot of fun reading Clifford book..

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

If only we had Clifford protecting the Jersey shore when Sandy hit. One of the most action-packed Clifford stories I've seen.

The long-nosed wicked witch bicycling in the storm, complete with basket, is a great detail.

Glad they addressed the potential continuity issue of them riding to the shelter on Clifford's back, then not having a ride back to the house without him. I can understand the grandmother not having a car, but her house not even having a driveway raises questions.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read this in Spanish. I'm reliving a lot of my childhood as well as keeping my Spanish up by reading classics like Clifford books in Spanish. Clifford is such a hero! In this book, he saves Emily Elizabeth and her grandma as well as her grandmother's house from a hurricane.
What fun to imagine riding on the back of a friendly giant red dog!....Imagine beating traffic on the back of Clifford!....imagine...imagine...

[Rosa Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is the Clifford book I remember as a kid... Clifford and Emily Elizabeth go and visit her grandma on the island. But a big storm comes in and they have to leave the house. Clifford knows Grandma is worried about her house so he heads back and protects the house and saves boats, other dogs and anyone he can while he's helping save her house. This is the heroic Clifford I grew up with 40 years ago!

[Christy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clifford was always my favorite dog as a child before I got my own. He was one of the reasons I wanted one so much. My mom would read them to me and then I learned to read them too.


Emily Elizabeth has a dog named Clifford. He is the biggest red dog ever.

In this book he took her to her grandma's who lives on the beach. All is going good until a big storm comes their way.


Clifford springs into action and saves the day and a few others along the way.

[Gabriela · Rating 3 out of 5]

My students love this book and I love this author. As a child I used to read Clifford obsessively, my mother was a kindergarten teacher so we had a huge children's book library. Clifford is fabulous, what's more exciting than a giant dog bigger than your house who is bright red and protects your grandmas house from hurricanes? Absolutely nothing, that's what. Maybe my own dogs. This book is #flawless and I won't hear a word against it.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a little concerned reading to my almost 4 year-old daughter now this hurricane was trying to destroy grandma's house. She seemed to grasp that we don't live near the ocean so we don't have to worry about giant waves or boats crashing into our house. Hopefully no nightmares are in the forecast.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A (perhaps inappropriately) cute little book about Emily Elizabeth and Clifford experiencing a hurricane. Complete with Emily Elizabeth being evacuated beforehand. Good for helping kids understand hurricanes and what happens when they hit populated areas.

[Blanca R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can use this book to ask children about their favorite pets and ask them what they like to do with that pet.
Learning experience: Draw a picture of their favorite pet that they would like to have or they already have at home.

[Samuel]

I learned that it is good to protect others.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Clifford adventure courtesy of Durham Co. Public Library--I actually liked this one pretty well and it was well read for the week we had it!

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

good early reader, using texet to relate to the television show, a cute childhood story book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Clifford book is especially compelling for youngsters - the threat of a big storm, evacuating one's home, and a dog-hero all add up to make a great read.

[Amanda Hlava · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute Clifford book. This could be a fun book to read when discussing hurricanes with the class.

[Amanda Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to ask questions with. Also good for students to imagine